Tail section of crashed cargo plane removed as salvage work nears completion

The tail section of the Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 747-400 freighter that crashed at Hong Kong International Airport last Monday has been removed, with full salvage operations expected to conclude by tonight, the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) said.

At around 10am Monday, a salvage vessel transported away the recovered tail section, while the fuselage, which was lifted from the seabed late Sunday, remained secured on a barge awaiting relocation.

The operation marks the final phase of recovery following the fatal accident that killed two Airport Authority ground staff after the freighter veered off the north runway and struck a patrol vehicle before plunging into the sea.

AAHK said crews are continuing to retrieve the remaining sections of the aircraft, with all work scheduled for completion by Monday evening.

Once the wreckage is fully recovered, the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) will move the fuselage and components to a storage site for detailed examination. A preliminary investigation report is expected within one month.